5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Today, venture capital (VC) is more democratic than ever. Investors are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and geography is no longer a constricting factor.

Lower barriers, however, create stricter filters. With so many startups jockeying for funding, the Internet also enables investors to make snap judgments. Therefore, if you��e looking for funding, you can be sure that your online presence will be the subject of intense scrutiny.

What do investors want to see? According to Edith Yeung, founding partner at RightVentures, there are two main criteria: the passion of the entrepreneur and the potential of the startup.

What better way to convey passion and potential than with well-crafted content? Yeung says that, with strong content, you can ��ake a stand publicly��ddressing issues that [investors] care about in a timely manner.��/p>

Top Value Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (PETR3)

Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (Petrobras) is a Brazil-based integrated oil and gas company. The Company divides its activities into seven segments: Exploration and Production; Refining, Transportation and Marketing; Gas and Power; Biofuel; Distribution and International. Directly or through its subsidiaries, Petrobras is engaged in the research, extraction, refining, processing, trade and transport of oil from wells, shale and other rocks, its derivatives, natural gas and other liquid hydrocarbons, as well as in activities related to energy, development, production, transport, distribution and commercialization of energy. The Company's offering comprises road transportation products such as Automotive Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, Natural Vehicular Gas, Lubrax; agriculture and cattle raising products such as Sunflower Meal, among others; Industrial products such as Solvents and Paraffins, among others. The Company provides its services both for individual and business clients. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Julia Leite]

  Brazil�� Ibovespa rose 1.2 percent, reversing a decline of as much as 0.9 percent, as Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR3), Brazil�� state-run crude producer, surged. The real added 1.5 percent.

• [By Maria Levitov]

  Brazil�� Ibovespa advanced amid speculation that a three-session slump for Brazil�� benchmark equity index was excessive. Usiminas, as Usinas de Minas Gerais is known, rose 7.5 percent, while oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR3) contributed the most to the gauge�� advance.

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge US (ETF) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield of an equity index of the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index. It is a market capitalization weighted index designed to track the performance of clean energy companies that are publicly traded in the United States and includes companies engaged in manufacturing, development, distribution and installation of emerging clean-energy technologies, including solar photovoltaics, biofuels and advanced batteries.

The NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index is a modified market cap weighted index in which larger companies receive a larger index weighting. First Trust Advisors L.P. is the adviser of the fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]

  The news was predictably good for a pair of ETFs that should be known as "Tesla ETFs." The Market Vectors Global Alternatve Energy ETF (NYSE: GEX) and the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NASDAQ: QCLN) both traded higher on a down day for U.S. stocks, rising to within pennies of their previous 52-week highs.

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: B P Marsh and Partners PLC (BPM)

B. P. Marsh & Partners PLC is a United Kingdom-based specialist private equity investor in early stage financial services businesses. The Firm considers investments opportunities based in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and occasionally elsewhere. The Firm has invested in over 25 financial service businesses since it was founded in 1990 and in February 2006 admitted its shares for trading on the Alternative Investment Market. It typically invest amounts of up to EURO 2.5 million in people businesses. Some of its portfolio companies include: The Broucour Group Limited, LEBC Holdings Limited, Hyperion Insurance Group Limited, and Paterson Squared LLC. In June 2013, it sold 80% of its holding in Hyperion to General Atlantic Hawthorn B.V. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Abbott]

  For OTEX, this includes five distinct groups of services:

  Enterprise Content Management (ECM), which includes records management, archiving, and email services Business Process Management (BPM), including software for analyzing and optimizing business processes Customer Experience Management (CEM), includes software that integrates internal and external content to enhance the ��ustomer experience�� Information Exchange (iX), "...a set of offerings that facilitate efficient, secure, and compliant exchange of information inside and outside the enterprise." Discovery, which includes the indexing, navigation, and retrieval of information in databases (for a fuller description of these segments, see the 10-K Report for 2014).

  As of June 30, 2014 it employed about 8,000, including 2,000 in cloud services, 1,900 in product development and 1,400 in sales and marketing.

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: First Financial Bankshares Inc.(FFIN)

First Financial Bankshares, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides commercial banking products and services primarily in Texas. It offers commercial banking services, which include accepting and holding checking, savings, and time deposits, as well as automated teller machines, drive-in and night deposit services, safe deposit facilities, remote deposit capture services, Internet banking, transmitting funds, and other commercial banking services. The company also provides commercial, financial, agricultural, real estate construction, real estate mortgage, and consumer loans to businesses, professionals, individuals, and farm and ranch operations. In addition, it involves in the administration of various types of retirement and employee benefit accounts, which include 401(k) profit sharing plans and IRAs; and offers personal trust services that comprise the administration of estates, testamentary trusts, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and agency accounts. Further, the company offers securities brokerage services. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 48 financial centers in Texas, including 10 locations in Abilene, 2 locations in Cleburne, 3 locations in Stephenville, 3 locations in Granbury, 2 locations in San Angelo, and 3 locations in Weatherford, as well as 1 location each in Mineral Wells, Hereford, Sweetwater, Eastland, Ranger, Rising Star, Southlake, Aledo, Willow Park, Brock, Alvarado, Burleson, Keller, Trophy Club, Boyd, Bridgeport, Decatur, Roby, Trent, Merkel, Clyde, Moran, Albany, Midlothian, and Glen Rose. The company was founded in 1956 and is based in Abilene, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Texas has set another record for job creation�with small cap Texas banking stock like Texas Capital Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBI), ViewPoint Financial Group (NASDAQ: VPFG) and First Financial Bankshares (NASDAQ: FFIN) naturally being well positioned to take advantage of the Texas economic miracle (see my previous article: Texas is Booming and So Are These Texas Stocks (EE, TPL & ATO)). I should�add that I wrote about�these Texas banking stocks back in late 2012�(see: Don�� Mess With Texas Banking Stocks TCBI, VPFG & FFIN) and the Texas Workforce Commission has just�reported that the Texas economy added 36,400 jobs in September while over the past 12 months, employers added 413,700 jobs ��the most ever recorded by the state. Moreover, several companies surveyed by the Dallas Fed responded by saying�they are seeing labor market tightness�while companies are saying they are experiencing upward wage pressures�and�staffing�firms�note that�candidates are often receiving multiple offers.

• [By Profit Fan]

  After rising 67% in the past 52-weeks, it is understandable that the price targets for First Financial Bankshares (FFIN) are slightly under the bank's current market price of $57.69 per share. But, the premium paid for these shares appear to be warranted.

• [By David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer]

  In the following video, Motley Fool financial analysts David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer discuss two stocks from the financial sector that they're watching today. David tells us why he's got his eye on�JPMorgan� (NYSE: JPM  ) and the trials and tribulations of CEO Jamie Dimon and what he'll be looking for at the company's annual meeting in two weeks. Matt Koppenheffer discusses the smaller-cap�First Financial Bankshares (NASDAQ: FFIN  ) �and why if Warren Buffett only had $1 million to invest, this might be one of the first places he'd look.

New Hire Roundup: SEC Names LeeAnn Gaunt Unit Chief

This week in personnel announcements and new hires, the SEC named LeeAnn Gaunt chief of the enforcement division’s municipal securities and public pensions unit, Rob Jasminski joined Citi Private Bank, Allianz Life brought in Chuck DiVencenzo and Kari King, and Raymond James advanced Jim Bunn and Jon Steele.

Also, Timothy Massad was nominated to head the CFTC, Jennifer Borow joined Sklar Kirsh; and Envestnet welcomed Zachary Karabell.

Gaunt Named to Head Unit at SEC

The SEC recently announced that LeeAnn Ghazil Gaunt has been appointed as chief of the enforcement division’s municipal securities and public pensions unit. She has worked in the unit since its inception in 2010, and supervised the agency’s first pay-to-play enforcement action for “in-kind” political campaign contributions in September 2012 when the SEC charged Goldman Sachs and an executive vice president for violations related to contributions to the then-state treasurer of Massachusetts.

Gaunt has worked in the SEC’s Boston regional office for 13 years, including 10 in supervisory roles. She has broad investigative experience handling matters ranging from investment adviser violations to insider trading. Prior to joining the SEC enforcement staff, Ms. Gaunt was in private practice in Boston, first at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and later at Goodwin Procter LLP.

Timothy Massad Nominated to Head CFTC

Timothy Massad has been nominated by President Barack Obama to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as successor to Gary Gensler, who currently holds the post. His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. The post carries with it the responsibility to implement new financial regulations under the Dodd-Frank legislation’s framework.

Massad is a former partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York, and served as special legal advisor to the Congressional Oversight Panel, one of the oversight agencies for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Later he became the Treasury’s assistant secretary for financial stability, in which role he was responsible for overseeing the implementation and wind down of the TARP.

Jasminski Joins Citi Investment Management

Citi Private Bank announced Tuesday that Rob Jasminski has joined Citi Investment Management as managing director and head of U.S. equities. He will be based in Stamford, Conn., and report to Stephanie Luedke, CEO, Citi Investment Management.

Prior to joining, Jasminski spent 20 years at GE Asset Management, where he held a variety of fundamental research and portfolio management positions, covering core and concentrated global equity strategies. Most recently, he was the assistant director of research.

Capital Square Realty Advisors Welcomes Byers

Capital Square Realty Advisors LLC announced Monday that Richard Byers has joined the company as controller. He will also serve as controller of affiliated companies Capital Square Holdings and Capital Square Management.

Byers joins with more than 30 years of experience, including with his own CPA practice and a 17-year engagement at RF&P Corporation. Earlier, he spent time as the controller for several real estate companies, including F. G. Pruitt Inc., Mark Properties and Zapolski Real Estate. He began his career with Ernst & Young. American College Hires Retired Navy Captain to Head Vets’ Affairs Center

The American College announced Monday that Captain Ted Digges, SC, USN (Ret.) has been hired as the director of The American College Penn Mutual Center for Veteran’s Affairs. In his new role, Captain Digges will help transitioning veterans develop a meaningful career in financial services.

Prior to joining, Captain Digges gained extensive experience over the course of a 27-year active-duty Navy career in strategic planning, customer service, logistics and program management. He has served in assignments all over the U.S. and the world, including tours in Asia Pacific and Europe. He is a former president of a nonprofit organization in Hampton Roads, Va., focused on engaging the military community and charitable endeavors, and in the financial services industry, he worked with high-net-worth clients as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch.

Allianz Life Welcomes Chuck DiVencenzo, Kari King

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America announced that it has named Chuck DiVencenzo as the new director of advanced markets and Kari King as the new director of integrated marketing planning, both in the marketing division.

DiVencenzo will develop and deliver advanced markets presentations to financial professionals across the country; he reports directly to Deb Repya, senior director of advanced markets. King is responsible for collaborating with partners throughout marketing to coordinate the prioritization of the overall marketing strategy, and also directs the marketing media strategy for Allianz entities across the country. She reports directly to Julia Gutz Moller, senior director U.S. marketing, brand and creative services.

Prior to joining, DiVencenzo was a managing advisor with Edward D. Jones, LLC in Amherst, N.Y. Before that, he was a managing partner for more than four years with CJD Consulting, LLP. He was also chief operating officer, director and secretary for Paradigm Capital Management, Inc. in Albany from 2006 through 2009. Additionally, he served as vice president of the investment products division for The Hartford in Simsbury, Conn. for more than eight years. He also held roles for M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y. and National Benefits Group in Amherst, N.Y. Earlier, he worked for law firms Phillips Lytle, and Woods, Oviatt in Buffalo for more than five years and was also a tax consultant with Ernst Young in Pittsburgh, Pa.

King has over 20 years of marketing experience. Prior to joining, she worked for Ameriprise Financial, Inc. in Minneapolis for six years, most recently as a marketing director in the client acquisition area. Prior to that, she led marketing strategies for the firm’s high-value-client loyalty programs. Before that, she worked at Carlson Hotels Worldwide (currently known as Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group) in Minneapolis, where she held director roles in the marketing department from 2000 until 2006. She also held various manager and director roles with companies in Minneapolis including National Car Rental, Northwest Airlines Corporation and The Lacek Group.

 

Jennifer Borow Joins Sklar Kirsh

Jennifer Borow has joined Sklar Kirsh LLP as a partner in the firm’s corporate law practice. She has a particular emphasis counseling high-net-worth individuals and family offices in connection with their closely held businesses, real estate holdings and other investment assets.

Hot Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch Right Now

Borow has 25 years of broad transactional law experience, and was previously a partner in the Los Angeles office of Loeb & Loeb LLP. She began her career at O'Melveny & Myers LLP, where she was a partner in their Century City office.

Bunn Named Co-Head of Raymond James Investment Banking; Steele Moves Up

Raymond James has announced that Jim Bunn has been appointed co-head of the firm’s investment banking practice, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Also effective Jan. 1, 2014, Jon Steele has been promoted to co-head of the technology services group to serve alongside Joe Estes. Bunn currently serves as co-head of the firm’s technology services investment banking group. In his new role, he will be based in the firm’s St. Petersburg, Fla. corporate headquarters and work alongside Dav Mosby, current head of investment banking.

Bunn joined in 2009 as part of the firm’s acquisition of boutique firm Lane Berry, where he managed the financial technology and technology services practices. Prior to joining Lane Berry in 2004, he was a member of the financial technology investment banking team at Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup, where he began his banking career in 1998.

Steele has a broad range of advisory and capital markets experience with software and services companies. He also joined Raymond James in 2009 as part of the acquisition of Lane Berry, which he helped found in 2002.

Zachary Karabell Joins Envestnet

Envestnet, Inc. announced that Zachary Karabell has joined the firm as head of global strategy. In this role, he will help shape and communicate the firm’s investment perspective and deep research capabilities to clients and the media alike, work with senior management on overall corporate strategy, branding and market position and advise the investment committee of Envestnet | PMC in connection with PMC’s portfolio solutions.

Karabell was previously executive vice president, chief economist and head of marketing at Fred Alger Management, where he led the creation, launch and marketing of several funds as well as corporate strategy for strategic acquisitions. He was also president of broker-dealer Fred Alger & Co., portfolio manager of the China-U.S. Growth Fund (CHUSX) and EVP of Alger’s Spectra Funds.

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Read the Nov. 7 New Hire Roundup at ThinkAdvisor.

Best Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now

NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP  ) has instituted an enhanced shareholder capital-return plan consisting of another $1.6 billion in stock repurchases over the next three years and a $0.15-per-share quarterly dividend, the company announced yesterday.

The $1.6 billion stock buyback program is in addition to the $1.4 billion remaining in NetApp's existing stock repurchase initiative. The $3 billion total in stock repurchases to be completed in the next three years includes $2 billion in the next 12 months, which includes $1 billion in the next four months.

NetApp also announced that shareholders of record on July 11 will receive a dividend equal to $0.15 a share, payable on July 23. The company said it intends to increase the dividend over time.

NetApp also said it has undertaken a "realignment of resources and restructuring" that will result in a reduction of its global workforce by an estimated 900 employees.The company has about 12,100 full-time employees, so 900 is about 7.4%. The job cuts will result in approximately $50 million to $60 million in pre-tax charges.

Top 10 Defense Stocks To Watch Right Now: Cellcom Israel Ltd.(CEL)

Cellcom Israel Ltd. provides cellular communications services in Israel. It offers basic and advanced cellular telephone services, text and multimedia messaging services, and advanced cellular content and data services. The company?s basic cellular telephony services include voice mail, cellular fax, call waiting, call forwarding, caller identification, collect call, conference calling, ?Talk 2?, additional number services, and collect call services; and outbound and inbound roaming services. It also provides value-added services comprising Cellcom volume that includes downloadable content, such as music, games, on-net-reality programs, drama series, and video games; SMS and MMS services to send and receive text, photos, multimedia, and animation messages; access to third party application providers for notification of roadway speed detectors, mange vehicle fleets, and enable subscribers to manage and operate time clocks and various controllers for industrial, agricultural , and commercial purposes; video calls to communicate with each other through video applications; zone services for calls initiated from a specific location; location-based services; voice-based information services; text-based information services and interactive information services, including news headlines, sports results, and traffic and weather reports; and data services to access handsets, cellular modems, laptops, tablets, and cellular routers, as well as Internet based payment services. In addition, the company sells handsets, modems, routers, tablets, and laptops, as well as provides repair and replacement services; and offers landline telephony, transmission, and data services through its approximately 1,500 kilometers of inland fiber-optic infrastructure and complementary microwave links to selected business customers. As of March 31, 2011, it provided its services to approximately 3.395 million subscribers. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Netanya, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Monday, telecommunications services shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.35 percent. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL), down 5 percent, and Partner Communications Company Ltd. (NASDAQ: PTNR), off 3.9 percent.

Best Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC)

Wisconsin Energy Corporation engages in the generation, distribution, and sale of electric energy and steam. The company also involves in the purchase, distribution, and sale of natural gas to retail customers, as well as in the transportation of customer-owned natural gas in Wisconsin. It generates electricity from coal, natural gas, wind, and hydro sources. The company offers its services under ?We Energies? name. It serves approximately 1,120,200 electric customers in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; approximately 1,064,500 gas customers in Wisconsin; and approximately 460 steam customers in metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition, the company invests and develops in real estate properties, including business parks and other commercial real estate projects primarily in southeastern Wisconsin. It provides electric utility service to industries, such as mining, paper, foundry, food products, and machinery production, as well as to retail chains. The c ompany was founded in 1981 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Our analysts share why they're keeping a close eye on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) , Wisconsin Energy (NYSE: WEC  ) �and Coach (NYSE: COH  ) .

• [By ovenerio]

  The company has a current ROE of 11.16% which is higher than the industry median. Also, it is higher than the one exhibit by Ameren (AEE). In general, analysts consider ROE ratios in the 15-20% range as representing attractive levels for investment. So, for investors looking at those levels, Wisconsin Energy (WEC) and CMS Energy (CMS) could be the options. It is very important to understand this metric before investing, and it is important to look at the trend in ROE over time.

Best Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Spectra Energy Corp(SE)

Spectra Energy Corp, through its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of a portfolio of complementary natural gas-related energy assets in the United States and Canada. The company operates in four segments: U.S. Transmission, Distribution, Western Canada Transmission and Processing, and Field Services. The U.S. Transmission segment engages in the transportation and storage of natural gas for customers in various regions of the northeastern and southeastern United States and the Maritime Provinces in Canada. Its natural gas pipeline systems consist of approximately 19,000 miles of transmission pipelines; and storage capacity comprises 305 billion cubic feet in the United States and Canada. The Distribution segment engages in the natural gas storage, transmission, and distribution in Western Canada and the United States. This segment has approximately 37,600 miles of distribution main and service pipelines serving approximately 1.3 million residential, comme rcial, and industrial customers. The Western Canada Transmission and Processing segment provides natural gas transportation, and gas gathering and processing services; and provides services to natural gas producers to remove impurities from the raw gas stream including water, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other substances. This segment serves local distribution companies, end-use industrial and commercial customers, marketers, and exploration and production companies. The Field Services segment gathers and processes natural gas, as well as fractionates, markets, and trades natural gas liquids. It engages in gathering raw natural gas through gathering systems located in nine natural gas producing regions consisting of the Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain, east Texas-north Louisiana, Barnett Shale, Gulf Coast, South Texas, Central Texas, Antrim Shale, and Permian Basin. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Analysts expect some $2 billion worth of new projects to be revealed, in addition to the $2 billion of projects that have already been announced.�Major projects that have either been proposed or are under way include a natural gas liquids processing plant�by affiliates of NiSource and Hilcorp Energy; a gathering and processing plant by M3 Midstream LLC, Access Midstream Partners, and EV Energy Partners (NASDAQ: EVEP  ) ; and a proposed pipeline from Ohio to Detroit and Canada, to be built by DTE Energy, Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE  ) and Enbridge.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Spectra Energy's (NYSE: SE  ) �1,717-mile Express-Platte System�is one of just three major pipeline systems moving crude oil from western�Canada�to U.S. refining markets in the Rockies area and the Midwest.

Best Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)

McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  Wednesday’s top DJIA laggard stocks were higher, up less than a point, headed into the early�1 p.m. close today.�McDonald’s�(MCD),�Disney�(DIS),�Chevron�(CVX)�Procter & Gamble�(PG) were up, though�ExxonMobil�(XOM) shares were flat headed into the close.�

Best Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Abbott Laboratories(ABT)

Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of health care products worldwide. The company offers adult and pediatric pharmaceuticals for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease; dyslipidemia; HIV infection; prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and anemia caused by uterine fibroids; respiratory syncytial virus; adult males who have low or no testosterone; secondary hyperparathyroidism; hypothyroidism; and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, as well as anesthesia products. It also provides diagnostic products, such as immunoassay systems; chemistry systems; assays used for screening and/or diagnosis for drugs of abuse, cancer, therapeutic drug monitoring, fertility, physiological, and infectious diseases; instruments that automate the extraction, purification, and preparation of DNA and RNA from patient samples, and detect and measure infections agents; genomic-b ased tests; hematology systems and reagents; and point-of-care diagnostic systems and tests for blood analysis. In addition, the company offers a line of pediatric and adult nutritional products. Further, it provides coronary, endovascular, vessel closure, and structural heart devices, such as drug-eluting stent systems, coronary metallic stents, balloon dilatation products, coronary guidewires, vessel closure devices, carotid stent systems, percutaneous valve repair systems, and drug eluting bioresorbable vascular products. Additionally, the company provides blood glucose monitoring meters, test strips, data management software, and accessories for people with diabetes; and medical devices for the eye, including cataract surgery, lasik surgery, contact lens, and dry eye products, as well as branded generic pharmaceutical products. Abbott primarily serves retailers, wholesalers, hospitals, and health care facilities. Abbott was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT  ) will release its quarterly report on Wednesday, and investors haven't been entirely comfortable with the company's prospects lately. Even though analysts expect Abbott earnings to grow this quarter, the stock has been under pressure as investors assess the company's future prospects without the branded-pharmaceutical business that got spun off into AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV  ) at the beginning of this year.

• [By George Acs]

  I currently own shares of Pfizer (PFE), Abbott Labs (ABT) and Eli Lilly (LLY) in addition to Merck (MRK), so I tread a little gingerly when considering adding either more shares of Merck or a new position in Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY), while I keep an eye of the need to remain diversified. Both of those, however, have traded well in their current price range and offer the kind of premium, dividend opportunity and liquidity that I like to see when considering covered call related purchases. As with Baxter, in the case of Merck I might consider selling September options because of the upcoming dividend.

• [By Keith Speights]

  Has anyone noticed a common theme among the first-quarter results for many of the big medical-device companies? In case you missed earnings announcements from Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT  ) , Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX  ) , Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW  ) , Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ  ) , or Stryker (NYSE: SYK  ) , the following chart shows how their medical-device business fared during the quarter.

Best Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: UniSource Energy Corporation(UNS)

UniSource Energy Corporation engages in the electric generation and energy delivery businesses. The company?s TEP segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 403,000 retail electric customers, including residential, commercial, industrial, and public sector customers in southeastern Arizona. It also sells electricity to other utilities and power marketing entities. As of December 31, 2010, this segment owned or leased 2,245 MW of net generating capacity, as well as owned or participated in electric transmission and distribution system consisting of 512 circuit-miles of 500-kV lines; 1,087 circuit-miles of 345-kV lines; 379 circuit-miles of 138-kV lines; 478 circuit-miles of 46-kV lines; and 2,621 circuit-miles of lower voltage primary lines. TEP segment generates electricity from coal, gas, oil, and solar sources. The company?s UNS Gas segment distributes gas to approximately 146,500 retail customers in Mohave, Yavapai, Coconino, and Navajo c ounties in northern Arizona, as well as Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona. As of December 31, 2010, this segment?s transmission and distribution system consisted of approximately 30 miles of steel transmission mains, 4,211 miles of steel and plastic distribution piping, and 136,439 customer service lines. The company?s UNS Electric segment transmits and distributes electricity to approximately 91,000 retail customers consisting of residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties. As of December 31, 2010, UNS Electric?s transmission and distribution system consisted of approximately 56 circuit-miles of 115-kV transmission lines, 271 circuit-miles of 69-kV transmission lines, and 3,599 circuit-miles of underground and overhead distribution lines. This segment also owns the 65 MW Valencia plant, as well as 39 substations having an installed capacity of 1,788,050 kilovolt amperes. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Tucson, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  UNS Energy (NYSE: UNS) shot up 27.75 percent to $58.56 after the company agreed to be acquired by Fortis Utility Group for $60.25 per share in cash.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Fortis Inc.(FTS.T) agreed to acquire UNS Energy Corp.(UNS) for about $2.5 billion, as the Canadian utility moves to boost exposure within the U.S. by acquiring a firm with a presence in the U.S. southwest. Shares of UNS jumped 30% to $59.02 premarket.

Best Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Becton Dickinson and Company(BDX)

Becton, Dickinson and Company, a medical technology company, develops, manufactures, and sells medical devices, instrument systems, and reagents worldwide. The company?s BD Medical segment produces medical devices that are used in various healthcare settings. This segment?s products include needles, syringes, and intravenous catheters for medication delivery; prefilled IV flush syringes; syringes, pen needles, and other drugs to treat diabetes; prefillable drug delivery systems; anesthesia needles and trays; sharps disposal containers; and closed-system transfer devices. Its BD Diagnostics segment provides products for the safe collection and transport of diagnostics specimens, as well as instrument systems and reagents to detect various infectious diseases, healthcare-associated infections, and cancers. This segment?s products consist of integrated systems for specimen collection; safety-engineered blood collection products and systems; automated blood culturing systems; molecular testing systems; microorganism identification and drug susceptibility systems; liquid-based cytology systems for cervical cancer screening; rapid diagnostic assays; and plated media. The company?s BD Biosciences segment produces research and clinical tools that facilitate the study of cells and their components. This segment?s products comprise fluorescence-activated cell sorters and analyzers; monoclonal antibodies and kits for performing cell analysis; reagent systems for life science research; cell imaging systems; laboratory products for tissue culture and fluid handling; diagnostic assays; and cell culture media supplements for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. It markets its products through independent distribution channels and independent sales representatives to healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry, and the general public. The company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Omar Venerio]

  In this article, let's take a look at Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX), a $22.23 billion market cap company that provides a wide range of medical devices and diagnostic products used in hospitals, doctors' offices, research labs and other settings.

• [By Sure Dividend]

  Health care will be necessary until we find a cure for everything. There is a less than infinitesimal chance of us finding a cure for everything in the next several decades. The following companies are Dividend Aristocrats whose revenue is generated primarily in the health care sector:

  HCP, Inc. (HCP) AbbVie (ABBV) Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Walgreen (WAG) Medtronic (MDT) Becton Dickinson (BDX) Cardinal Health (CAH) C.R. Bard (BCR)

  Not to be outdone by the food and beverage industry (or perhaps due to negative health effects from the food and beverage industry), the health care industry counts nine Dividend Aristocrats in its ranks. They operate in more diverse lines of business than the food companies. HCP is a REIT that focuses on health care properties. C.R. Bard, Medtronic, and Becton Dickinson manufacture and distribute health care devices and supplies. Abbott Laboratories and Johnson & Johnson (and to a lesser extent, Cardinal Health) are well-diversified health care businesses. AbbVie was recently spun-off from Abbott Laboratories (notice the vaguely similar names), and is a pharmaceutical company.

• [By ovenerio]

  In the medical supplies division (17%), Covidien competes with Becton Dickinson (BDX), 3M (MMM), Con- Med, CareFusion (CFN) and First Quality.

  Strengths

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  And the market has made my case for me in recent days by punishing fad-oriented companies like Soda Stream International Ltd. (Nasdaq: SODA) and GoPro Inc. (Nasdaq: GPRO), for example. Big brands like Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) and Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE: BDX), on the other hand, are doing just fine even though they came under pressure with the broader markets, too.

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2015

Best Financial Stocks To Invest In 2015: SBT Bancorp Inc (SBTB)

SBT Bancorp, Inc., incorporated on February 17, 2006, is the holding company for The Simsbury Bank & Trust Company, Inc. (the Bank). The Bank provides a variety of banking and investment services. The Bank has branch offices in the towns of Granby, Avon, and Bloomfield, Connecticut. The Bank also maintains a mortgage center in Canton, Connecticut. Services to the Bank's customers are also provided through SBT Online Internet banking. The Bank's customer base consists primarily of individual consumers and small businesses in north central Connecticut. The Bank has in excess of 21,000 deposit accounts. In January 2011, the Bank formed Simsbury Bank Passive Investment Company, a subsidiary of Passive Investment Company (PIC).

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Bank had seven automated teller machines (ATMs); two are located at each of its main office and its Bloomfield office, and one at each of the other branch/business offices. The Bank offers a ra nge of commercial banking services to residents and businesses in its primary and secondary markets through a variety of commercial loans and residential mortgage programs, as well as home equity lines and loans, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured checking, savings, and individual retirement accounts (IRA), 401K rollover accounts, as well as safe deposit and other customary non-deposit banking services. The Bank offers investment products to customers through SBT Investment Services, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank, and through its affiliation with the securities broker/dealer LPL Financial Corporation.

Lending Activities

The Bank's commercial loans are made for the purpose of providing working capital, financing the purchase of equipment, or for other business purposes. Such loans include loans with maturities rangi! ng from thirty days to two years and term loans, which are loans with maturities normally ranging from 1 to 10 years. Short-term business loans are generally inten! ded to finance current transactions and typically provide for periodic principal payments, with interest payable monthly. Term loans normally provide for fixed or floating interest rates, with monthly payments of both principal and interest. The Bank's construction loans are primarily interim loans made to finance the construction of commercial and single-family residential property. These loans are typically short-term. The Bank occasionally will make loans for speculative housing construction or for acquisition and development of raw land. Consumer loans are made for the purpose of financing automobiles, various types of consumer goods, and other personal purposes.

Investment Activities

As of December 31, 2011, the Bank's investment portfolio consisted of the United States Government and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, municipal securities, and money market mutual funds. During 2011, proceeds from sales of avail able-for-sale securities amounted to $8,274,474.

Sources of Funds

Deposits are the Bank's primary source of funds. At December 31, 2011, the Bank had a deposit mix of 43% checking, 34% savings, and 23% certificates of deposit. Thirty percent of the total deposits of $344.8 million were noninterest bearing at December 31, 2011. The Bank had brokered deposits of $9,017,198 as of December 31, 2011.

The Company competes with Bank of America, Webster Bank, People's Bank, Windsor Federal Savings And Loan Association and Wells Fargo Bank.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, SBTB remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $28.20 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 3:47PM EDT July 30, 2013).

  SBT Bancorp, Inc., previously reported net income of $401,000 or $0.43 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2013,! compared! to $453,000 or $0.49 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2012.

  For the six months ended June 30, 2013, net income amounted to $918,000, or $0.99 per diluted share. This compares to net income of $934,000 or $0.96 per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Total assets on June 30, 2013 were $382 million compared to $340 million on June 30, 2012. 12

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-financial-stocks-to-invest-in-2015-6.html

Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014

If you sort the stocks on the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) by price-to-earnings ratio, one thing becomes immediately obvious: Financial companies are some of the cheapest stocks in the market right now. Of the 20 stocks with the lowest P/E multiples, five are insurance companies and three are banks.

While I'm not as well versed in insurance stocks, there are a couple of important things to note here with respect to banks. These companies appear cheap for a reason. Many, like S&P component SunTrust Banks (NYSE: STI  ) , are still atoning for sins committed in the lead up to the financial crisis. Their costs are high because of heightened mortgage-servicing standards and loan-loss provisions while their revenues are down thanks to the compression of interest rates.

The more traditional way to assess this is through the price-to-tangible-book-value ratio -- which is analogous to the P/E ratio, but the denominator contains a bank's tangible book value and not its earnings. The story is the same if viewed from this perspective. Since 1994, the average P/TBV of the nation's four largest banks by assets comes in at 2.69. Right now, it's 1.17, or less than half of its recent historical average.

Top 5 High Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Electronics for Imaging Inc.(EFII)

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. provides color digital print controllers, digital inkjet printers, and business process automation solutions. The company?s Fiery products consist of stand-alone print controllers and servers connected to digital copiers and other peripheral devices; embedded and design-licensed solutions used in digital copiers and multi-functional devices; optional software integrated into controller solutions that include Fiery Central and MicroPress; Entrac, a self-service and payment solution; PrintMe, a mobile printing application; and stand-alone software-based solutions, such as proofing and scanning solutions, including ColorProof XF, Fiery XF, ColorProof eXpress, and Xflow. It also offers industrial inkjet products, including VUTEk super-wide format digital industrial inkjet printers and inks used by billboard graphics printers, commercial photo labs, sign shops, graphic screen printers, specialty commercial printers, and digital graphics providers; Rastek hybrid and flatbed entry level production UV wide format inkjet printers; and Jetrion label and packaging digital inkjet printers, integration solutions, and specialty digital UV inks for primary and secondary label applications, and industrial label or flexible packaging markets. In addition, the company provides advanced professional print software products consisting of print production workflow and management information software, including Monarch, PSI, Logic, PrintSmith, and PrintFlow; Pace, a cloud-based business process automation software; and cloud-based order entry and order management systems, which comprise Digital StoreFront, PrinterSite, and PrintSmith Site. Electronics For Imaging, Inc. offers its products through sales force and distribution arrangements primarily in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Foster City, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Electronics for Imaging (Nasdaq: EFII  ) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Electronics for Imaging beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

• [By shash63]

  Electronic For Imaging�� (EFII) second biggest segment, Fiery Controllers, contributed 35% of total revenue. This segment provides controllers for digital printers. The company�� big clients in this segment are Xerox, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, and Canon, contributing 80% of this segment�� revenue. These clients are expected to launch new products in future, thus creating further potential for revenue growth.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of digital printing technologist Electronics for Imaging (NASDAQ: EFII  ) popped 12% today after its quarterly results topped�Wall Street expectations.

Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Comcast Corporation(CMCSA)

Comcast Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications products and services in the United States and internationally. Its Cable Communications segment provides video, high-speed Internet, and phone services to residential and business customers. As of June 30, 2011, its cable systems served approximately 22.5 million video customers, 17.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 9.1 million phone customers. The company?s Cable Networks segment operates cable entertainment networks, such as USA Network, Syfy, E!, Bravo, Oxygen, Style, G4, Chiller, Sleuth, and Universal HD; news and information networks, including CNBC, MSNBC, and CNBC World; cable sports networks comprising Golf Channel and VERSUS; regional sports and news networks; international entertainment, and news and information networks, such as CNBC Europe, CNBC Asia, and Universal Networks International portfolio of networks; cable television production oper ations; and digital media properties consisting primarily of brand-aligned Websites and other Websites, such as DailyCandy, Fandango, and iVillage. Its Broadcast Television segment operates the U.S. broadcast networks, NBC and Telemundo; 10 NBC and 15 Telemundo owned local television stations; broadcast television productions; and related digital media properties. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment operates Universal Pictures, which produces, acquires, markets, and distributes filmed entertainment and stage plays worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television, and other distribution platforms. Its Theme Parks segment operates Universal Studios Hollywood park and Wet ?n Wild water park, as well as licenses intellectual properties and provides services to third parties that own and operate Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore. Comcast Corporation was founded in 1963 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Investing Insight]

  The entertainment and communication services industries are expected to have a healthier future due to an increased demand for filmed entertainment, higher TV advertising spending by businesses and a significant growth in small-to-medium sized businesses. These factors are anticipated to benefit Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) and its investors. The company's stock is already providing a handsome profit to its investors due to its higher dividend yield and upside potential.

• [By Tim Brugger]

  A dose of reality
  Along with airlines, the cable industry consistently ranks among the worst for customer service, year in, year out. The animosity consumers feel toward the cable industry is across the board -- Time Warner Cable finds itself on most of these lists, along with competitors including Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA  ) and Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR  ) . Both Comcast and Charter have the distinction of owning even lower customer service ratings than Time Warner Cable, and that's saying something.

Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd.(RRST)

RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. provides content management and distribution services to television and radio broadcasting industries. The company, through its proprietary ?RRsat Global Network? comprising satellite and terrestrial fiber optic transmission capacity and the public Internet, offers distribution services for content providers. Its content distribution services consist of worldwide transmission of video and audio broadcasts. The company also offers content management services, including digital archiving and compilation of customer?s programming and advertising content into various broadcast channels. In addition, RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. provides various production services on a contractual basis and satellite newsgathering services through its fleet of vans for outside broadcasting and electronic news gathering crews and packages. Further, it offers live broadcast studios and editing facilities to its customers. The company?s RRs at Global Network delivers content to various end markets, including cable operators, satellite operators, Internet protocol television operators, direct to home market, and public Internet. Additionally, RRSat Global Communications Network provides mobile satellite telecommunications services, such as global telephony, fax, data, Internet, and other value added services for shipping, aviation, construction, and oil companies; humanitarian aid organizations; governmental agencies; and other end customers that require telephony and Internet services in remote areas. As of December 31, 2009, it provided services to approximately 545 television and radio channels in approximately 150 countries. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in D.N. Shikmim, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  In trading on Thursday, telecommunications services shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.83 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Internet Initiative Japan (NASDAQ: IIJI), with shares up 9.5 percent, and RRSat Global Communications Network (NASDAQ: RRST), with shares up 4.9 percent.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  On Friday, the telecommunications services sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) and China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited (NYSE: CHU).

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Telecommunications services shares fell by 0.74 percent in Wednesday’s trading. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included RRSat Global Communications Network (NASDAQ: RRST), down 5.9 percent, and China Unicom (Hong Kong) (NYSE: CHU), off 4.6 percent.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Friday, telecommunications services shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.88 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included RRSat Global Communications Network (NASDAQ: RRST), up 3.4 percent, and China Mobile (NYSE: CHL), up 2.3 percent.

Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Sandstorm Gold Ltd (SAND)

Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (Sandstorm Gold), formerly Sandstorm Resources Ltd., is a gold streaming company. The Company provides financing to gold mining companies that are looking for capital and in return, receives a gold streaming agreement. It is a non-operating gold mining company with seven gold streams in the portfolio, five of which are producing gold. The Company�� projects include the Aurizona Gold project, the Santa Elena project, the Summit Mine project, the Ming Mine project, the Black Fox Mine project, Bracemac-McLeod project and the Bachelor Lake Mine. It holds 17% interest in the mine gold production from Aurizona. Santa Elena Project, in which the Company holds 20% interest. It holds 12% interest in the mine gold production from Black fox mine project. The Summit Mine project, in which it has 50% interest, 25% interest in Ming mine project and 17.5% interest in Bracemac-McLeod project. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tony Daltorio]

  The chief executive officers (CEOs) of both Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW) and Sandstorm Gold (NYSE MKT: SAND) told the Forum now was a great time to bolster their gold streams at a nice discount in price.

Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: NetSpend Holdings Inc.(NTSP)

Netspend Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides general purpose reloadable (GPR) prepaid debit and payroll cards, and alternative financial service solutions to underbanked and other consumers in the United States. Its GPR cards offer access to FDIC-insured depository accounts with a menu of pricing and features tailored to underbanked consumers needs; and serves as access devices to an FDIC-insured depository account with a bank. The company also provides various products and services to its cardholders, such as direct deposit, interest-bearing savings accounts, bill pay functionality, card-to-card transfer capability, personal financial management tools, and online and mobile phone card account access, as well as overdraft protection through its issuing Banks, and complimentary insurance coverage services. Netspend Holdings, Inc. markets its cards through various distribution channels, including retail distributors, direct-to-consumer and online marketi ng programs, and contractual relationships with corporate employers. As of December 31, 2011, it offered approximately 2.1 million active cards through approximately 600 retail distributors at approximately 40,000 locations; and reload services through approximately 450 retailers at approximately 130,000 locations. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Austin, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jane Edmondson]

  One additional item of note: the stock has been a rumored take-out candidate since another large competitor, NetSpend (NTSP), received an offer to be acquired in February by global payment solutions provider TSYS (TSS).

Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Kennametal Inc. (KMT)

Kennametal Inc. manufactures and supplies tooling, engineered components, and advanced materials consumed in production processes worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Industrial and Infrastructure. It offers standard and customized technologies for metalworking, such as metal cutting tools, tooling systems, and services, as well as materials, including cemented tungsten carbide products, super alloys, coatings, and investment castings. It also manufactures and markets a line of tool holders, tool-holding systems, and rotary-cutting tools by machining and fabricating steel bars and other metal alloys; and tungsten powders, tungsten heavy alloys, tungsten carbide materials, and tungsten carbide cutting tools. In addition, the company produces compacts and metallurgical powders; products made from tungsten carbide or other hard materials that are used for custom-engineered and applications, including mining and highway construction; and engineered components and s urface technology solutions with proprietary metal cladding capabilities, as well as process technology and materials that focus on component deburring, polishing, and effecting controlled radii. The Industrial segment serves customers primarily in the aerospace, defense, transportation, and general engineering market sectors, as well as the machine tool industry; and offers its products and services for use in the manufacture of engines, airframes, automobiles, trucks, ships, and various types of industrial equipment. The Infrastructure segment serves customers in energy and earthworks sectors who support primary industries, such as oil and gas; power generation; food and beverage; chemicals; underground, and surface and hard-rock mining, highway construction, and road maintenance. The company sells its products through direct sales force; network of independent distributors and sales agents; and Internet. Kennametal Inc. was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Kennametal (KMT)

  Richard Snow (Trades, Portfolio)�� fifth largest position is in Kennametal where he holds on to 1,872,839 shares of the company�� stock. This position represents 3.3% of his total portfolio as well as 2.41% of the company�� shares outstanding.

Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Katy Industries Inc (KATY)

Katy Industries, Inc. (Katy) is a manufacturer, importer and distributor of commercial cleaning and storage products. The Company�� commercial cleaning products are sold primarily to janitorial/sanitary and foodservice distributors that supply end users, such as restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities and schools. The Company�� storage products are primarily sold through home improvement and mass market retail outlets. Continental Commercial Products, LLC (CCP) is its wholly owned subsidiary and includes as divisions all of its business units. The Company�� business units are Continental, Contico, Container, Gemtex, Glit and Wilen. On October 4, 2011, the Company sold all assets and certain liabilities related to the DISCO division of CCP to DISCO Acquisition Corp. In February 2014, Katy Industries Inc completed the acquisition of Fort Wayne Plastics, Inc.

The Continental business unit is a plastics manufacturer and an importer and distributor of products for the commercial janitorial/sanitary maintenance, industrial and food service markets. Continental products include commercial waste receptacles, buckets, mop wringers, janitorial carts, and other products designed for commercial cleaning and food service. Continental products are sold under the brand names, such as Continental, Kleen Aire, Huskee, SuperKan, King Kan, Unibody, Tilt-N-Wheel, Wall Hugger, Collossus, Corner��Round, Rountop, Swingline, Kleen Tech and Structo Tuff.

The Contico business unit is a plastics manufacturer and distributor of home and tool storage products, sold primarily through home improvement and mass market retail outlets. Contico products include plastic home storage units, such as domestic storage containers, tool boxes, shelving and hard plastic gun cases and are sold under the brand names Contico and Tuffbin. Contico is a registered trademark used under license from Contico Manufacturing Limited.

The Container business unit is a plastics manufacturer and distributor ! of industrial storage drums and pails for commercial and industrial use. Products are sold under the Contico and Contico Container brand names.

The Gemtex business unit is a manufacturer and distributor of resin fiber disks and other coated abrasives for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), automotive, industrial and home improvement markets. Gemtex products are sold under the brand names Trim-Kut and Grind R.

The Glit business unit is a manufacturer and distributor of non-woven abrasive products for commercial and industrial use and also supplies materials to various OEMs. Glit non-woven products include floor maintenance pads, hand pads, scouring pads, specialty abrasives for cleaning and finishing, growth medium and roof ventilation products. These products are sold primarily in the commercial sanitary maintenance, food service, industrial and construction markets under the brand names, such as Glit, Kleenfast, Glit/Microtron, Fiber Naturals, Blue Ice, Brillo, Cyclone, Cyclone D, Sponge Pro, Wipe Clean Pro, Joey, Jackeroo, Buckaroo, Cocopad, Safire and WalnutPad. Brillo is a registered trademark used under license from Armaly Brands, Inc. and BAB-O is a registered trademark used under license from Fitzpatrick Bros., Inc.

The Wilen business unit is a manufacturer, importer and distributor of professional cleaning products that include mops, brooms, brushes and plastic cleaning accessories. Wilen products are sold primarily through commercial sanitary maintenance, industrial and food service markets, with some products sold through consumer retail outlets. Products are sold under the brand names, such as Wilen, Wax-o-matic, Rototech, ErgoWorx and Derma-Tek.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Mydlo]

  The guru, Mario Gabelli, purchased 724,729 shares of Katy Industries (KATY). According to the 13D filed with the SEC on March 21, 2014, Gabelli is deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities owned by Gabelli Funds, GAMCO, Teton Advisors and MJG Associates. The total amount of shares owned is 1,711,045, representing 21.52% of the shares outstanding. Katy engages in the manufacture, import and distribution of commercial cleaning and storage products for commercial janitorial/sanitary maintenance, industrial, foodservice, mass merchant retail and home improvement markets in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Top 5 Casino Stocks To Invest In 2015

Top 5 Casino Stocks To Invest In 2015: Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc (DDE)

Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc., incorporated in December of 2001, is a premier gaming and entertainment resorts. The Companys operations consist of: Dover Downs Casino, a 165,000-square foot casino complex featuring table games, including craps, roulette and card games, such as blackjack, Spanish 21, baccarat, 3-card and pai gow poker, the latest in slot machine offerings, multi-player electronic table games, the Crown Royal poker room, a Race & Sports Book operation, the Dover Downs' Fire & Ice Lounge, the Festival Buffet, Doc Magrogan's Oyster House, Frankie's Italian restaurant, as well as several bars, restaurants and four retail outlets; Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center, a 500 room AAA Four Diamond hotel with a full-service spa/salon, conference, banquet, ballroom and concert hall facilities, and Dover Downs Raceway, a harness racing track with pari-mutuel wagering on live and simulcast horse races. All of its operations are located at its entertai nment complex in Dover. Its two wholly owned subsidiaries include Dover Downs, Inc. and Dover Downs Gaming Management Corp.

Dover Downs Casino

The Company's casino had approximately 2,539 slot machines as of December 31, 2011. It is open for business around the clock. During the year ended December 31, 2011, that the facility was visited by approximately 2.6 million patrons. Its slot machines range from penny machines to $100 machines in the Premium Slots area and include games found in the country's major gaming jurisdictions. The Company operates with 40 tables, including blackjack, craps and roulette tables. The Crown Royal poker room has 12 poker tables. It has its Race and Sports Book operation featuring parlay sports wagering on NFL games and pari-mutuel wagering on live and simulcast horse races. Dover Downs, Inc. is authorized to conduct video lottery, sports wagering and table game operations. The Company's ! Capital Club, a slots players clu b and tracking system, allows it to identify customers and to reward their level of play through various marketing programs.

Dover Downs Hotel

The Company's luxury hotel facility, the Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center, connects to the Company's casino. The facility includes 500 rooms, including 11 luxury spa suites, a multi-purpose ballroom/concert hall, a fine dining restaurant, swimming pool and a luxurious 6,000 square-foot full-service spa. It offers a range of entertainment options to its patrons, including concerts featuring prominent entertainers, live boxing, gourmet dining, spa facilities, trade shows and conferences. During 2011, hotel occupancy averaged 90%.

Dover Downs Raceway

The Companys Dover Downs Raceway conducts live harness races from November until April and is simulcast to more than 300 tracks and other off-track betting locations across North America on each of the Company's more than 120 liv e race dates. The Company's harness racing track is a 5/8-mile track that is located on DVD's property and is on the inside of its one-mile motorsports superspeedway. Additional amenities include the Winners Circle Restaurant overlooking the horse racing track. Within the Company's Race & Sports Book operation is the simulcast parlor where the patrons can wager on harness and thoroughbred races received by satellite into its facility year round from numerous tracks across North America. Television monitors throughout the area provide views of all races simultaneously and the betting windows are connected to a central computer allowing bets to be received on all races from all tracks.

The Company has an agreement with the Delaware Standardbred Owner's Association, Inc. (DSOA) effective September 1, 2010 and continuing through August 31, 2014. DSOA's membership consists of owners, trainers and drivers of harness horses participating in harness race meetings at it s facilities and elsewhe! re in the! United States and Canada. Under the DSOA agreement, the Company is required to distribute as purses for races conducted at its facilities a percentage of its retained share of pari-mutuel revenues.

The Company competes with Harrington Raceway and Delaware Park.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Stocks on the move: Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ: VOD) is up 8.1% at $31.80 on reports of discussions with Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) that would result in the sale of Vodafones 45% stake in Verizon Wireless to the controlling shareholder. Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: DDE) is up 10.8% at $1.54 after Wednesdays launch of its online casino games that will soon be available to state residents to play for real money.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The REIT is expected to spend as much as $500 million in acquisitions in 2014, according to Barrons, and some potential acquisition targets include Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (NASDAQ: ISLE) which has a market cap of around $323 million or Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: DDE) with a market cap of around $47 million.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-5-casino-stocks-to-invest-in-2015-2.html

Mediocre Start for Two Private Equity-Backed IPOs

On a day when Twitter's impending listing dominated initial public offering buzz, two private equity backed companies debuted with tepid results.

Carlyle Group(CG)-backed CommScope(COMM)Holding Co. raised nearly $577 million in its initial public offering of 38.5 million shares, which priced at $15 apiece, below a previously set per-share range of $18 to $21.

CommScope, of Hickory, N.C., provides connectivity and infrastructure for wireless, business enterprise and residential broadband networks. It makes coaxial fiber and other cables used to build communications infrastructure. Washington, D.C.-based Carlyle took the company private in January 2011 for about $3.36 billion, or $3.9 billion including assumed debt.

The company's shares nearly ended the day where they started. Shares traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market at $14.99 each at Friday's close.

That was a smaller drop than the 6.25% slide of Endurance International Group Holdings Inc., the other PE-backed company to debut Friday. The communications infrastructure company, backed by Warburg Pincus and GS Capital Partners, the private equity affiliate of Goldman Sachs Group Inc.,  priced 21 million shares at $12 each, also under a previously estimated range of $14 to $16 per share. During 4 p.m. trading on the Nasdaq, those shares were down 75 cents, trading at $11.25.

Write to Hillary Canada at hillary.canada@wsj.com

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy Right Now

Top 5 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy Right Now: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)

McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Woods]

  Theres nothing more iconic in the fast-food world than a Big Mac, fries and a chocolate shake. This tasty, profitable combination is the of restaurant giant McDonalds (MCD), a company that has made a mission out of providing fast food to more countries than any other restaurant chain in history.

• [By Mark Yagalla]

  Getting into the breakfast business is a direct challenge to McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) and its breakfast menu.Breakfast is a popular and profitable business for McDonald's. Matter of fact, McDonald's has been toying with the idea of offering breakfast around the clock. The new breakfast menu from Taco Bell looks to eat into some of McDonald's business and capture this important time of day. For us Fools, who doesn't love a good breakfast?

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-5-blue-chip-stocks-to-buy-right-now.html

Alcoa Urges Changes to LME (AA)

Aluminum giant Alcoa (AA) has sent a letter to the London Metal Exchange urging rule changes to appropriately meet the needs of the aluminum market.

The proposed changes are specifically aimed at the availability of aluminum as well as making the entire industry more transparent. Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld wishes for the LME to improve its reporting system to increase market efficiency and to improve contracts to better allow traders to hedge against price risk.

Alcoa’s letter comes shortly after the company learned it would be removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index which it had been a member of since 1959.

Alcoa shares were up 13 cents, or 1.59%, at Wednesday’s close. The stock is down more than 5% YTD.

10 Best India Stocks To Buy For 2014

DIVIDEND SPOTLIGHT

New Best Buy Pick in Telecommunications

By Richard Stavros

At 7.48%, this U.K.-based communications company is the new Best Buy in my conservative portfolio (which is made up of 10 safety-rated stocks).

With a solid base of over 100 million customers in Europe, they��e well positioned to safely expand globally. They��e conquering new markets by onboarding millions of customers in India, Turkey, and across Africa.

I continue to watch U.S.-based Verizon (NYSE:VZ); more updates later. I don�� currently recommend Spain-based Telef贸nica (NYSE:TEF), as Robert outlines below.

My Best Buy is without a doubt the safest dividend in telecommunications ��find out more here.

FEATURE INCOME ARTICLE

Go Global, But Don�� Go Crazy

By Robert Frick

Our credo here at Global Income Edge is you collect the best returns by going global��ut by best we also mean relatively safe. Simply chasing the highest yields without weighing risks can land you in some shaky investments.

Hot Financial Companies For 2015: Infosys Technologies Limited(INFY)

Infosys Ltd. provides information technology (IT) and consulting services worldwide. It offers IT services, such as application, architecture, independent validation and testing, information management, infrastructure, packaged application, SOA, systems integration, and knowledge services; product engineering services, manufacturing process and plant solutions, and product lifecycle management services; and consulting services in the areas of information and technology strategies, product innovation, next generation commerce, process excellence, and learning and complex change. The company also provides business process outsourcing solutions in the areas of business platforms, customer service outsourcing, finance and accounting, human resources outsourcing, legal services, sales and fulfillment, and sourcing and procurement outsourcing. In addition, it offers collaborative analytics solutions; digital consumer platform; Finacle universal banking solution; iProwe, a Web ac cessibility assessment product; mConnect, a real-time enterprise middleware; and research and analytical support services. Further, the company offers unified communications and collaboration solution that streamlines business processes between employees, customers, and suppliers; iTransform that helps healthcare organizations accelerate transition to new platforms; and supply chain visibility and collaboration product suite. It serves aerospace and defense, airlines, automotive, banking, capital markets, communication services, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, education, energy, healthcare, high technology, hospitality and leisure, insurance, life sciences, logistics and distribution, publishing, resources, utilities, and retail industries. Infosys Ltd. has a strategic partnership with Alstom SA. The company was formerly known as Infosys Technologies Limited and changed its name to Infosys Ltd. on June 16, 2011. Infosys Ltd. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered i n Bengaluru, India.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Infosys Ltd. (NYSE: INFY) reported a 13% gain in net profit for the three months ended December 31. The company also maintained its revenue growth forecast for the year.

10 Best India Stocks To Buy For 2014: Sify Technologies Limited(SIFY)

Sify Technologies Limited provides enterprise and consumer Internet services primarily in India. The company offers various corporate network/data services comprising e-commerce and network connectivity solutions, such as end-to-end services network, application, and security services; voice origination and termination services; co-location and managed hosting services; and system integration services for data centre build, hardware distribution, security solutions, and turnkey projects. It also provides application services, including SLEMS and Microsoft Exchange messaging platforms; I-test for online assessment and LiveWire, which enable management of training processes across the organization; document management system for the management of documents electronically; and Forum, a forward supply chain solution. In addition, the company operates e-Ports that offer browsing, chat, email, gaming, utility bill payment, travel ticketing, hotel booking, mobile recharge, Intern et telephony, and online share trading services; and portals, which provide news, views, reviews, interactions, and services in the areas of movies, sports, finance, food, videos, astrology, online games, shopping, and travel, as well as offers content offerings and broadband services. Further, it provides infrastructure management services, such as network management, datacenter and helpdesk outsourcing, desktop and storage outsourcing, IT security outsourcing, LAN and WAN outsourcing, database and telecom outsourcing, and application monitoring and management services to automotive, chemical, media, and financial enterprises; and virtualization design, integration, and deployment services for servers, storage, networks, and end user clients. Sify has approximately 1,278 e-Ports in 200 towns and cities; and serves 1,06,000 broadband subscribers through 1500 cable TV Operators. The company, formerly known as Sify Limited, was founded in 1995 and is based in Chennai, India. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY).

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY). Utilities shares dropped by 0.11 percent in the US market today.

10 Best India Stocks To Buy For 2014: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd(RDY)

Dr. Reddy?s Laboratories Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a pharmaceutical company. It produces finished dosage forms, active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates, and biotechnology products. The company also conducts research in the areas of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, inflammation, and bacterial infection. In addition, it involves in the contract manufacture generic prescription and over-the-counter products for branded and generic companies in the United States. The company primarily focuses on therapeutic categories of cardiovascular, diabetes management, gastro-intestinal, and pain management. It markets its products in India, the United States, Europe, and the Russian Federation. The company has a co-development and commercialization agreement with Rheoscience A/S for the development and commercialization of Balaglitazone/DRF 2593, a partial PPAR-gamma agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes; an agreement with ClinTec Internatio nal for the development of an anti-cancer compound, DRF 1042; collaboration with the National Cancer Institute in Maryland; and an agreement with Argenta Discovery Limited for the joint development and commercialization of a novel approach to the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It also has an agreement with 7TM Pharma for drug discovery collaboration on selected drug targets; and an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline plc to develop and market pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, oncology, gastroenterology, and pain management. Dr. Reddy?s Laboratories Limited was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, India.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Benjamin Shepherd] We’re now into day 15 of the US government shutdown, as House Republicans stubbornly try to defund Obamacare. No matter what sort of deal is eventually struck, health care costs aren’t likely to come down any time soon. And that’s good news for generic drug makers.
  
  Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (NYSE: RDY) is one of the biggest players in generic drugs, offering more than 200 off-brand medications in the areas of cardiovascular disease, pain management and oncology, among others. In fact, this India-based company has become one of the largest makers of generics in the world, helping to drive more than 20 percent annual compounded earnings growth at the company over the past decade.

10 Best India Stocks To Buy For 2014: Tata Motors Ltd(TTM)

Tata Motors Limited, an automobile company, engages in the manufacture and sale of commercial and passenger vehicles primarily in India. The company offers cars, utility vehicles, trucks, buses and coaches, and defense vehicles, as well as develops electric and hybrid vehicles for personal and public transportation. It also involves in distributing and marketing cars; and financing the vehicles sold by the company. In addition, the company engages in the provision of engineering and automotive solutions, as well as machine tools and factory automation solutions; construction equipment manufacturing; automotive vehicle components manufacturing and supply chain activities; tooling and plastic and electronic components for automotive and computer applications; and automotive retailing and service operations. It offers its products and services through its dealership, sales, services, and spare parts network. The company also markets its commercial and passenger vehicles in Eu rope, Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia, South Asia, and South America. The company was formerly known as Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited and changed its name to Tata Motors Limited in July 2003. Tata Motors Limited was founded in 1945 and is based in Mumbai, India.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bram de Haas]

  Trading at a P/E (TTM) of 16 the company is not cheap at first glance, yet given all the information indicating significant earnings growth in 2013 the multiple of 16 becomes much less threatening. There is also the book value of about $10 / share and the recent offer by Landry of $22 a share to add some insurance on the downside. Given current earnings the valuation may be in line, but given the prospects of earnings increasing significantly, the stock is worth more.

• [By Justin Loiseau]

  March sales data from�Tata Motors� (NYSE: TTM  ) �show business is booming for its Jaguar Land Rover subsidiary.

  Overall sales clocked in at 53,772 units, up 16.4%�from March 2012, and longer-term trends tell a similar story. In the past 12 months, sales have headed even higher, up 22.5% to 374,669. Jaguar sales are up 8.1% in the last year, while Land Rover carried the carline with a 25.6% boost.

10 Best India Stocks To Buy For 2014: Stewart Information Services Corporation(STC)

Stewart Information Services Corporation provides title insurance and related information services required for settlement by the real estate and mortgage industries. It operates in two segments, Title Insurance-Related Services and Real Estate Information. The Title Insurance-Related Services segment offers services that include searching for and examining documents, such as deeds, mortgages, wills, divorce decrees, court judgments, liens, paving assessments, and tax records, as well as provides titles insurance for residential and commercial properties, undeveloped acreage, farms, ranches, and water rights. This segment serves attorneys, builders, developers, home buyers and home sellers, lenders, and real estate brokers. The Real Estate Information segment offers products and services, which primarily include lender services, title technology, foreign and domestic government services, mapping, title information, Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 tax-deferred property e xchanges, pre-employment services, and online filing and transaction management. Its customers include mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, mortgage investors, government entities, commercial and residential real estate agents, land developers, builders, title insurance agencies, and others interested in obtaining property information, as well as accountants, attorneys, investors, and employers. The company has operations primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, central Europe, Mexico, central America, and Australia. Stewart Information Services Corporation was founded in 1893 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Tower Group has dropped 12% to $3.88 today at 11:39 a.m., while Stewart Information Services (STC) has dipped 0.1% to $31.16, the�Navigators Group�(NAVG) has fallen 1.4% to $54.78 and HCI Group�(HCI) has gained 1% to $38.16.

• [By James Fink]

  My housing pick is Houston-based Stewart Information Services (STC), a 120-year-old real estate business founded in 1893, that is still owned and managed by the founding family.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Tower Group has dropped 40% to $4.43 today, and some other small insurers are also getting dinged this morning. HCI Group (HCI) has fallen 1.8% to $39.36, Stewart Information Services (STC) has declined 0.7% to $31.36 and the Navigators Group (NAVG) has ticked down 0.4% to $56.10.

Top 5 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014

These are challenging times for McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) . The world's largest burger chain is posting negative comps, likely positioning it to deliver its first full year of declining same-restaurant sales since 2002. However, let's not assume that the Golden Arches will be forever tarnished. Let's go over a few things that could go right for McDonald's stock in the coming quarters.

1. Comps can bounce back

It's easy to be down on McDonald's. It's coming off three consecutive quarters of slightly negative comparable-restaurant sales growth in the U.S., and now things are starting to get iffy overseas. The current quarter got off to a horrendous start, with McDonald's suffering a 3.2% slide in domestic comps with an even bigger slide in Asia. It's not pricing, as McDonald's pricing had increased an average of 3% over the past year through June. New premium items and the Dollar Menu adding items last year at the $2 and $5 price points find folks willing to pay more.

Best Income Stocks For 2015: Goldcorp Incorporated(GG)

Goldcorp Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of precious metal properties in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. It produces and sells gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. The company was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Goldcorp Inc. (GG) engages in the acquisition, development, exploration, and operation of precious metal properties in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. Yield: 2.5%

• [By Jim Jubak]

  As of 3:00 PM New York time yesterday, shares of Newmont Mining were down 3.65%; Goldcorp (GG) was lower by 2.85%; Yamana Gold (AUY) was off 2.84%; Barrick Gold (ABX) had dropped 3.17%, and Randgold (GOLD) had declined 1.37%. Goldcorp and Yamana Gold are members of my Jubak's Picks portfolio.

• [By Doug Ehrman]

  With the price of gold cooling off over the last week, the roller-coaster ride for both the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEMKT: GLD  ) and for big miners like Goldcorp (NYSE: GG  ) , Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX  ) , and Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM  ) is in full effect, and the rush back to gold seems over. A drop in demand would normally signal the end of a trend, but Dennis Gartman of "The Gartman Letter" urges us to think about gold in a new light 芒�� as a currency.

• [By Doug Ehrman]

  The verdict
  When gold prices remain stagnant, even in the face of global weakness, it's time for concern. Gold has enjoyed a solid run, but the current slump seems likely to continue. In addition, where miners such as Goldcorp (NYSE: GG  ) have underperformed the commodity for an extended period, earlier in the week that trend seemed to be reversing. Structural changes of this nature should be seen as an additional warning sign and a cause to stay on the sidelines. If you want to maintain some exposure to gold, the miners may be ready to reverse some of their underperformance and may provide a more attractive investment profile at current levels. Gold remains under pressure, and a tumble to $1,400 seems a good probability.

Top 5 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Pershing Gold Corp (PGLC)

Pershing Gold Corporation, incorporated on August 2, 2007, is a gold and precious metals exploration company. The Company is pursuing exploration and development opportunities primarily in Nevada. It is focused on exploration at its Relief Canyon properties in Pershing County in northwestern Nevada. None of the Company�� properties contain proven and probable reserves, and all of its activities on all of its properties are exploratory in nature. The Company seeks properties with known mineralization that are in an advanced stage of exploration and have previously undergone some drilling but are under-explored. It is focused on exploration of the Relief Canyon properties, recommissioning the Relief Canyon gold processing facility and, if economically feasible, commencing mining at the Relief Canyon Mine.

Relief Canyon Mine Property

The Company�� Relief Canyon properties totals approximately 25,000 acres and consists of approximately 940 owned unpatented mining claims, 120 owned millsite claims, 170 leased unpatented mining claims, and leased and subleased private lands. The Company drilled 44 holes for approximately 28,500 feet in 2013. This drilling was on land adjacent to the current deposit and focused on extending and upgrading the existing deposit. In January 2013 the Company reported 32,541,000 tons of mineralized material at an average grade of 0.017 ounces of gold per ton and a cut-off grade of 0.0046 ounces of gold per ton.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ValueInvestor7]

  I listen to investing advice from self-made billionaire investors, and I try to ignore advice from everyone else. I suspect readers on this website will appreciate this, where thankfully the Focus is still Gurus. To this end, I bring you the instructive story of Pershing Gold Corp (PGLC) and Levon Resources (TSE: LVN) (LVNVF).

Top 5 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Golden Star Resources Ltd(GSS)

Golden Star Resources Ltd., a gold mining and exploration company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of gold properties. It owns and operates the Bogoso/Prestea gold mining and processing operation that covers approximately 40 kilometers of strike along the southwest-trending Ashanti gold district in western Ghana; and the Wassa open-pit gold mine located to the east of Bogoso/Prestea in southwest Ghana. The company also has an 81% interest in the Prestea underground gold mine located in Ghana. In addition, it holds interests in various gold exploration projects in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cote d?Ivoire, as well as holds and manages exploration properties in Brazil in South America. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Littleton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Patricio Kehoe] ating price of the commodity, along with the geopolitical risks involved in mining in African nations such as Ghana, are just two of the obstacles the firm is facing. In addition, as one of the smallest gold mining firms in the industry, with a market cap of just $122 million, Golden Star has had a very difficult time financing its latest expansion projects. With share prices tumbling towards all-time lows, gurus such as Steven Cohen, Chuck Royce and Arnold Schneider have already sold out their positions in the troubled firm.

  Why Have Gurus Lost Faith in Golden Star?

  Despite aggressive expansion over the past decade, the Toronto-based gold mining firm has not been able to take advantage of its increased production output. Gold prices might have exploded over a ten-year period, yet the recent six-month decline has put a huge strain on Golden Star. The expedited maturation of its mines is particularly troubling, since the accelerated extraction rates, which allowed for short-term profits, are now falling considerably. The impact of the company�� excessive overproduction on profits and growth is clear: decreasing gold reserves mean less production, and thus reduced revenue for the gold miner. When the decline in metal prices are taken into account, the outlook is even more grim.

  In addition to overexpansion at the wrong time, Golden Star�� position has weakened due to its comparably less efficient operations. Unlike industry peers, such as IamGold Corp. (IAG) or Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), the majority of the Toronto-based miner�� assets contain refractory ore, which is far more expensive to extract than non refractory ore. And, in an attempt to switch production to the lower cost gold ore, and thus increase margins, Golden Star has depleted its mines��non refractory ore. With low reserves and mounting cash costs, the firm inevitably turned to new acquisitions.

  Overpriced Acquisitions and Geopolitical Risk

  The purchase

• [By Patricio Kehoe] some future and gave several reasons for my bearish stance towards the stock. A small market, high geopolitical risk in some of the countries the firm operates, along with overexpansion in times of fluctuating gold prices gave tune to the massive shedding of shares by investment gurus. Five months have past since I last considered Golden Star�� potential, and everything indicates the situation has not changed.

  Guru Activity Shows a Clear Tendency

  Steven Cohen (Trades, Portfolio), Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio) and Arnold Schneider (Trades, Portfolio), had already sold their entire holdings in the company by October 2013, indicating they had little faith in the gold miner�� recovery. By the end of the year, Jim Simons' (Trades, Portfolio) Renaissance Technologies took a similar decision, reducing its stake in the firm by 32%. This tendency towards the sale of Golden Star stock was duly noted by investors and analysts alike, and concurs with the company�� poor performance.

  A Look at the Numbers

  In an industry plagued by fluctuating metal prices, operating with lofty margins can be quite helpful. Yet Golden Star cannot afford such luxuries. With an operating margin of 0.1% and a net margin of -56.8% the firm is in a tight spot, especially when compared to the industry average. Unlike its industry peers��median, which are of 2.26% and -0.09%, respectively, the Toronto-based gold miner is struggling to generate decent cash flow levels. Further metrics depict a even worse situation for shareholders: return on equity is currently at -370% and revenue growth is estimated to reach a poor 2.5%. Purchasing overpriced assets, relative to current gold prices, is surely one of the reasons for such grim figures, as financial losses have taken their toll on Golden Star.

  The announcement of its 2013 full year, and fourth quarter earnings only helped to add to shareholders��concerns. A 15% decline in revenue was expected by those

Top 5 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Iamgold Corporation(IAG)

IAMGOLD Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral resource properties worldwide. It primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, copper, niobium, diamonds, and other metals. The company holds interests in eight operating gold mines, a niobium producer, a diamond royalty, and exploration and development projects located in Africa and the Americas. Its advanced exploration and development projects include the Westwood project in Canada; and the Quimsacocha project, which consists of 3 mining concessions covering an aggregate area of approximately 8,030 hectares in Ecuador. The company was formerly known as IAMGOLD International African Mining Gold Corporation and changed its name to IAMGOLD Corporation in June 1997. IAMGOLD Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  On that theory, hard-hit energy stocks that have suffered from the crash in oil prices could stand to benefit. Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR  ) , for instance, lost more than half its value in the last four months of 2014 as the exploration and production company with a huge stake in the Bakken shale play in North Dakota suffered from worries about the sustainability of its long-term growth in light of falling oil. Similarly, many small-cap gold and silver miners struggled through a poor 2014, and so companies like First Majestic Silver (NYSE: AG  ) and IAMGOLD (NYSE: IAG  ) arguably have more to gain from a January bounce.

• [By Patricio Kehoe]

  In addition to overexpansion at the wrong time, Golden Star�� position has weakened due to its comparably less efficient operations. Unlike industry peers, such as IamGold Corp. (IAG) or Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), the majority of the Toronto-based miner�� assets contain refractory ore, which is far more expensive to extract than non refractory ore. And, in an attempt to switch production to the lower cost gold ore, and thus increase margins, Golden Star has depleted its mines��non refractory ore. With low reserves and mounting cash costs, the firm inevitably turned to new acquisitions.

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Air France led airlines lower, falling 4 percent to 7.30 euros. International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) lost 1.9 percent to 270.7 pence while Deutsche Lufthansa AG slid 2.1 percent to 15.75 euros.